Each time there’s a new boss at Old Trafford people say Scott will be out of the team ..but he always rises to the challenge and keeps his place
Clarke can count on survivor McTominay
Steve Clarke hears it every time a new manager turns up at Manchester United.
It was the same when the Old Trafford club signed a five-time Champions League-winning midfielder for £70million.
“Well, that will be Scott McTominay out of the team.”
But time and time again, it doesn’t happen. The Scot is still there.
New Dutch coach Erik ten Hag picks him despite the arrival of Brazilian star Casemiro from Real Madrid.
Last week McTominay was praised by team-mate Christian Eriksen for his role in United’s recent resurgence.
Yet, strangely in Scotland, the 25-year-old doesn’t seem to get the credit he deserves.
Among the Tartan Army questions are constantly raised about McTominay.
Is he a centre- back or a midfielder? Is he a sitter or can he go box-to-box?
Does he even get in Scotland’s best starting XI?
But the national manager has no doubts about McTominay’s worth to the team.
And, whether it’s in defence or midfield, Clarke knows he can rely on him to do a job.
He’ll be a key player for Scotland this week for a huge Hampden double-header in the Nations League against Ukraine on Wednesday night then Republic of Ireland on Saturday.
Clarke says he’s lucky to work with a player of McTominay’s cal ibre who, he says, is excelling at one of the biggest clubs in the world.
The Scotland gaf fer said: “Every time Manchester United change their manager, people say it will be Scott who will go out of the team.
“But he rises to the challenge and says: ‘I’m not going out of the team’ – which is great.
“He’s now got real competition in Casemiro but is still holding down his place.
“His performances have been good and he deserves to play in Manchester United’s team.”
So what is his best position? With a wry smile, Clarke said: “Right-sided centre-back.
“I’ve played him there quite often and, contrary to what people say, he can play that position and play it well for us.
“He can also play a defensive midfield role and sit behind the game. Or he can go box-to-box.
“Scott has all those attributes to his game. It’s fantastic as a coach to have a chance to work with a player like that.
“It’s credit to him that he can do all of it.
‘ I’m sure if I played him at right-back he would be decent there as well.
“Scott just wants to play for his country. He always says that wherever I want him to play, he’ll play. That’s great for me.
“Scott is always here. When he misses a Scotland squad he’s devastated because he wants to be there.
“He wants to be part of a successful squad, like all the boys do.
“This is a group of players who really want to do well for their country.
“They suffered in the summer when we didn’t qualify for the World Cup. They suffered more than anybody.”
There was a time when the amount of Scots operating in England’s top f l ight was beginning to dwindle. But with the likes of McTominay, Andy Rober tson, Kieran Tierney and John McGinn being Premier League regulars, it has inspired others.
And one of the new kids on the block, Nathan Patterson, is now a fixture in Everton’s side as well.
Clarke knows al l about playing full- back and loves Patterson’s attitude.
He revealed that he told Tof fees mana ger Frank Lampard – whom he worked with at Chelsea – that Patterson wouldn’t let him down.
And he’s delighted to be proved right.
Clarke said: “Everybody knows that I really like Nathan. I like the way he plays full-back or wing-back.
“He’s a great kid with a good character.
“I spoke to Frank towards the end of last season when he was going to play Nathan against West Ham but he then got injured in training.
“I said to Frank that once the boy gets a chance to play, I was sure he wouldn’t come out of his team.
“Thankfully, so far, I’ve been proved right.
“Nathan wants to be good and wants to be successful.
“He wanted to chal lenge himself in the Premier League and he has done that with his performances so far.
“It’s been a brief spell and he has to continue at this level. That’s what it’s all about now.
“He plays with the right attitude and spirit.
“He wants to be a winner – and the more winners I have in my squad the better. You can see that Everton fans love him.
“They’re not too dissimilar to fans up here in Scotland.
“They want to see their boys go into tackles, be committed.
“And that’s what Nathan is. A few years ago everyone said we had no right-backs.
“But in Nathan and Aaron Hickey at Brentford, we now
It’s fantastic for me to have a chance to work with a player like Scott
have two playing in the Premier League. It’s great for them and the country.”
Victories against Ukraine and Ireland could see Clarke’s side top their Nations League section and secure a Euro 2024 play-off spot.
To do that, Scotland has to generate a new feelgood factor after our World Cup hopes were ended by the Ukrainians back in the summer.
Clarke admits it was the first time in his reign that he didn’t recognise his team.
He’s had that burden on him since a damaging defeat to the Irish in Dublin.
And now he wants to put it right. The Scotland boss said: “Of course I suffered.
“We wanted to go to the World Cup and it didn’t happen.
“But footbal l isn’t always about the good t imes , sometimes you have to suffer.
“With the next three games we have a chance to finish top and qualify for the top group in the Nations League.
“That’s what we’re aiming to do – to resume our progress.
“The summer was the first time I’ve looked at the group and thought: ‘ Ooft, that was a poor camp, we didn’t make any progress.’
“We just stopped. So it’s time to resume that progress.”